Fuel dispensing system for cash customers
First Claim
1. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:
- a) a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia; and
b) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control system and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction; and
c) said control system providing customer related information associated with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is to provide a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions wherein the system includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with the customer. The receiver operates in conjunction with the control system to retrieve the identification indicia from the remote communications unit. A cash transaction indicator is provided in association with the control system and adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place. The control system will provide customer related information associated with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated. The system may also include a transmitter associated with the control system and adapted to transmit the customer related information to the remote communications unit associated with the customer. Alternatively, the control system may include memory for storing the customer related information in association with the identification indicia. The related information may correspond directly to customer change resulting from a cash transaction wherein the change is determined by the control system during the transaction. In addition to storing credit for change based on a cash transaction, loyalty points may be provided and stored on or in association with the transponder. Preferably, the cash transaction indicator is located at the dispenser and is selectable by the customer at the beginning of the transaction. The cash transaction indicator may also be activated by an operator of the system upon determining the customer is using cash for the transaction. Typically, the cash transaction indicator resulting from an operator input is located at a terminal within the fuel station store.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:
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a) a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia; and
b) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control system and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction; and
c) said control system providing customer related information associated with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49)
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20. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:
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a) a fuel dispenser including a dispenser control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia;
b) a central control system operatively associated with and located apart from the dispenser control system;
c) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control systems and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction; and
d) said control systems having associated memory and operating to provide a customer transaction information and associate the customer transaction information with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator.
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29. A method of enhancing cash transactions in a fueling environment comprising:
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a) receiving identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer;
b) determining the customer with the associated remote communications unit is conducting a cash transaction; and
c) providing a loyalty benefit for the customer.
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34. A method of enhancing cash transactions in a fueling environment comprising:
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a) receiving identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer;
b) determining the customer with the associated remote communications unit is conducting a cash transaction;
c) calculating a credit for the change resulting from the cash transaction; and
d) storing the credit for future use by the customer.
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38. A fuel dispenser system comprising:
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a) a customer input device, display, and interrogator operatively associated with a dispenser control system;
b) said customer input device and display adopted to provide a customer interface;
c) said interrogator adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;
d) said customer interface adapted to provide a cash transaction input for the customer to select a cash transaction; and
e) said control system adapted to operate in conjunction with a remote communication unit to provide customer information associated with the remote communications unit said interrogator communicates with when a cash transaction is selected.
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47. A transaction system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:
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a) a transaction terminal;
b) communication electronics operatively associated with said transaction terminal and adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;
c) a control system associated with said transaction terminal and said communication electronics;
d) said transaction terminal having a cash transaction input for indicating a cash transaction; and
e) said control system generating customer information corresponding to the remote communications unit in remote communication with said interrogator for a cash transaction when said cash transaction input is actuated.
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Specification